Jordan Beck | Daily Press UPutt Family Fun Center co-owner Don Martin holds a fogging machine he uses to keep UPutt’s building clean Thursday. One of three new arcade games purchased for the center during the lockdown is shown in the background.

ESCANABA — Indoor recreation has resumed in the Escanaba area. A local movie theater, family fun center and YMCA — all of which were closed for extended periods of time in response to COVID-19 — reopened to the public last week.

UPutt Family Fun Center, which had its ribbon-cutting ceremony in early June last year, reopened on Wednesday, June 10.

“We celebrated our one-year anniversary closed,” said Don Martin, who co-owns UPutt along with his wife Vickie Martin.

Business at UPutt has been slow since it started operating again. Martin said he is confident this will change as life continues to go back to normal.

“It’s just a reflection of the times,” he said.

During the lockdown, the Martins kept busy by making improvements to UPutt. These improvements included the purchase of three new arcade games, the addition of props to the business’ mini golf course –along with the redesigning of some holes –and the deep cleaning of the building, among other changes.

“We tried to take advantage of the downtime,” Martin said.

UPutt did not lose any employees as a result of the pandemic.

“We were able to keep our whole staff — all 13 people,” Martin said.

To promote social distancing, UPutt has been staggering groups of golfers, keeping two holes between each group. Employees must follow a preparedness and response plan. As part of this, they are required to wear face masks at all times while working.

Martin has been using disinfectant and a fogging machine every day to keep UPutt’s building clean.

“I do the whole place in less than an hour, and everything is killed on contact,” he said of the machine.

The Northern Lights YMCA Delta Program Center also reopened to the public Wednesday.

“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from our members and program participants,” Membership and Marketing Director Hadele Peacock said.

Peacock said the YMCA’s pool, fitness center, gym and hot tub were all open.

“Our sauna still remains closed due to the current mandate that’s in place,” she said.

Some other changes had to be made at the YMCA, as well. Visitors are being screened before entering, plexiglass shields have been set up at the facility’s front desk, some exercise machines in the fitness center have been blocked off, and the pool’s capacity has been reduced.

“We’re only allowed to have 25 percent capacity in there,” Peacock said.

The YMCA’s day camps and fitness classes began Monday. Swim lessons and swim team will follow on Monday, June 22.

Willow Creek Cinemas 8 fully reopened on Thursday, June 11. Before movies could be screened there, the theater had opened on Fridays and Saturdays to sell concessions and gift cards.

“We had a special going on … for every $20 gift card you purchased, you got a free large popcorn,” Theater Manager Josh Vandermissen said.

Due to the pandemic, however, Vandermissen said there are no new releases for the theater to show right now.

“I don’t know when those will be coming out as of yet — hopefully soon,” he said.

In the meantime, Willow Creek is running a “Welcome Back Movie Series” focusing on classic movies. New movies will be added weekly, and ticket prices for all showtimes have been discounted.

Along with these changes, the theater has put a number of procedures in place to protect the health of its customers and employees.

“We had guidelines sent out by the governor,” Vandermissen said.

In compliance with these guidelines, theater employees are using masks and gloves, hand sanitizer is available on counters and counters are being cleaned on a regular basis. Capacity has been reduced at Willow Creek, as well — patrons are being asked to sit at least two seats away from other people not in their groups.